Lesson 19

Bite off... tell apart… all in all… pass out… go around… be in (the/one’s way)… put on… put up…. put up with… in vain… day in and day out… catch up
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To bite off: to accept as a responsibility or task
This idiom is often used when one accepts more responsibility than one can handle alone. It is used in the form to bite off more than one can chew.
Ø When I accept the position of chairman, I didn’t realize how much I was biting off.
Ø When James registered for 18 units in his last semester at college, he bit off more than he could chew.
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To tell apart: to distinguish between (also: to pick apart, to tell from) (S)
Ø The two brothers look so much alike that few people can tell them apart.
Ø That copy machine is so good that I can’t pick the photocopy and the original apart.
Ø Most new cars are very similar in appearance. It’s almost impossible to tell one from another.
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All in all: considering everything
Ø There were a few problems, but all in all it was a well-organized seminar.
Ø Leonard got a low grade in one subject, but all in all he’s a good student.
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To pass out: to distribute (also: to hand out) (S), to lose consciousness
The verbal idiom to hand out can be made into the noun handout to refer to items that are distributed in a class or meeting.
Ø Please help me pass out these test papers; there must be a hundred of them.
Ø Alright, students, here are the class handouts for this week.
Ø The weather was so hot in the soccer stadium that some of the fans in the stands passed out.
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To go around: to be sufficient or adequate for everyone present, to circulate, to move from place to place.
Ø We thought that we had bought enough food and drink for the party, but actually there wasn’t enough to go around.
Ø There’s a bad strain of influenza going around right now. Have you gotten your flu shots yet?
Ø Mike has been going around telling people that he was accepted to Harvard University. Do you believe him?
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To be in (the/one’s) way: to block or obstruct, no to be helpful, to cause inconvenient (for both, also: to get in the/one’s way)
Ø Jocelyn couldn’t drive through the busy intersection because a big truck was in the way.
Ø Our small child tried to help us paint the house, but actually he just got in our way.
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To put on: to gain (pounds or weight) (S), to present, to perform (S)
Ø Bob has put on a lot of weight recently. He must have put at least fifteen pounds on.
Ø The Youth Actor’s Guild put on a wonderful version of Romeo and Juliet at the Globe Theater.
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To put up: to construct, to erect (S), to lift, to raise upwards (S)
Ø The construction company is tearing down that old office building in order to put up a new one.
Ø Please put your hand up if you have never studied English grammar before.
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To put up with: to tolerate, to accept unwillingly
Ø The employee was fired because his boss could not put up with his mistakes any longer.
Ø While I’m studying, I can’t put up with any noise or other distractions.
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In vain: useless, without the desired result
Ø All the doctors’ efforts to save the injured woman were in vain. She was declared dead three hours after being admitted to the hospital.
Ø We tried in vain to reach you last night. Is your phone out of order?
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Day in and day out: continuously, constantly (also: day after day, for longer periods of time, year in and year out and year after year)
Ø During the month of April, it rained day in and day out.
Ø Day after day I waited for a letter from him, but one never came.
Ø Year in and year out, the weather in San Diego is the best in the nation.
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To catch up: to work with the purpose of fulfilling a requirement or being equal to others.
The idiom is often followed by the preposition with and a noun phrase. It is similar in meaning to keep up with from Lesson 17.
Ø The student was absent from class so long that it took her a long time to catch up.
Ø If you are not equal to others, first you have to catch up with them before you can keep up with them.
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E X E R C I S E S
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Choose the appropriate idiomatic expression to substitute for the italicized word or words in each sentence below. Idioms from previous lessons are indicated by number.
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1. News circulated the office that the company president was being forced to
resign.
a. went over (lesson 18)
b. went around
c. went on (lesson 6)
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2. I’m sorry that I have to interrupt while you’re talking, there’s an important phone
call for you, Mr. Mason.
a. break in (lesson 17)
b. be in the way
c. put up with
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3. Several students had not been able to keep up with the rest of the class, so
they had a lot of difficulty working to be equal to the others.
a. putting on
b. catching up
c. picking apart
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4. Marsha’s efforts to open the door were useless, it was tightly shut.
a. all in all
b. in vain
c. no matter (lesson 15)
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5. Jason didn’t know anything about carpentry, so he only caused inconvenience
when the tried to help Tom build a storage room.
a. put up
b. passed out
c. got in the way
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6. Get in touch with me when you return from your trip, okay?
a. get back (lesson 5)
b. go around
c. tell from
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7. Considering everything, I’m lucky to have a steady job, even if it isn’t very
exciting.
a. all in all
b. at all (lesson 4)
c. day in and day out
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8. The Lawsons couldn’t tolerate the noise of the busy highway next to their house
any longer, so they decided to move.
a. put up
b. put up with
c. put out (lesson 6)
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9. Is there beer and wine to be sufficient for everyone, or should we drive down to
the store for more?
a. to pass out
b. to go around
c. to pick apart
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10. The magician performed an amazing act for the audience of young people.
a. bit off
b. called for (lesson 13)
c. put on
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Answer these questions orally by making use of the idiomatic expressions studied in this lesson.
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1. Have you ever bitten off more than you could chew? Explain the situation.
2. In what part of the world is it difficult to tell night and day apart?
3. Have you ever passed out or seen someone pass out? What happened?
4. What do people in an audience have to do if there are not enough seats to go around?
5. What should you tell someone who is in your way while you’re working?
6. How could someone put on a lot of weight in a short time?
7. In class, when would you put up your hand? Is this easy or difficult for you to do? Why?
8. What are some of the things in life that you have trouble putting up with?
9. How would you feel if you had to stay at home day in and day out taking care of the household and, perhaps, children? Would you feel satisfied or would you feel unhappy? Explain your reasons.
10. Have you ever found yourself catching up with others? What was the situation?